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The MFA at HKU offers writers the flexibility of studying across genres as they discover the strongest form or combination of genres for their voices. We offer writers in the programme an opportunity to experiment with the fluidity of genre in addition to sustained guidance toward selecting specialization of genre for their original work in the Creative Thesis.
The MFA at HKU emphasizes the beauty of the history of the craft as well as the flexibility of participation in contemporary practices. It offers range across genres as well as expertise in craft in a chosen genre. Students will work with fellow writers in classes on campus, and each writer will work individually on a body of work under the guidance of a writer, an Advisor, in a chosen genre.
The MFA at HKU, therefore, allows students---as they take both the chance and time to experiment---to expand their options and expectations as writers in touch with fellow writers on campus and throughout history; it allows writers to build upon expanding work within a growing knowledge of craft and history in their field, whether fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or drama. |
Mission
The unique design of the MFA at HKU, exploring history and contemporary practices, allows writers in Hong Kong to discover the flexibility of both voice and achievement through the intense study of literary fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction.
The MFA at HKU will guide the art of creative writing across genres as well individual progress toward the creative thesis. It will look both to history and contemporary work internationally in the field. No programme can guarantee publication. At the same time, the MFA in creative writing will introduce approaches and plans for preparation of publishing in a writer’s chosen genre.
Studies for the MFA at HKU allow each student to develop an individual project in creative writing within a dedicated community of fellow writers, led by local and visiting lecturers. Our part-time programme in the School of English offers emerging writers in Hong Kong both specialization and depth, as well as time spent together on campus exploring craft.
Through classes, workshops, individual advising, and participation in the Creative Writing Forum in the School of English, the MFA at HKU in Creative Writing aims to offer:
- intense focus on an individual writer’s growing body of achievement, along with expertise in editing drafts with greater independence, accuracy, and historical awareness in the craft and discipline of creative writing
- the discovery of common concerns, problems, and practices of creative writing in a community of fellow writers and scholars on campus
Applying to the MFA at HKU
Applications and Fees
Notification: You will be notified of the results of your application by the Faculty of Arts by mid-July 2013.
Please visit the following website to submit your application:
http://www.asa.hku.hk/admissions/tpg
This application from the Faculty of Arts will provide the forms and information that you will need to apply to The University of Hong Kong. You will see on the website requirements for the Faculty that you must meet to be admitted to The University of Hong Kong as a postgraduate student.
Please also be reminded that the TPg applications for admission and payment of application fees are required to be made ONLINE at this website. The fee for the programme, subject to the university’s approval, and paid by 4 installments over the course of two years, is 51,250 HKD/year.
Our website here at The School of English will offer information and guidance regarding your application as it pertains to your chosen field in postgraduate studies at the University of Hong Kong, Creative Writing.
Writing Sample and Interview
Writers may include work that has been started but has not yet found an ending, or a piece of writing in early stages, or work that has been developing or interrupted over a period of time.
- Therefore, a writing sample from your interests in creative writing should include excerpts from a piece of work that, so far in your writing, you would like passionately to continue at length and in depth.
- The writing sample should consist at least of approximately 10-15 pages, or a sample of work that you think is indicative of the kind of work that you would like to pursue in the programme.
- If you are a writer of fiction, you might submit a sample story or an excerpt from a longer work of fiction. If you are a poet, you might submit 8-15 poems in progress. If you are working on a piece of creative nonfiction (memoir, personal essay, biography), consider at least approximately 10-15 pages or so from your work in progress. If you write plays, consider the submission of either a scene or a short full-length play.
You may of course find that you will change directions, change subjects, or change genres altogether. We anticipate movement and flexibility. At the same time, your writing sample is a glimpse at this moment of the voice and direction that you hope most to give form and life.
In the spring of 2013, therefore, you may be asked to come for an interview regarding your interests and hopes for your work as a writer in the programme and the coming years.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation should be sent to the School Office by post. The address is School of English, Room CRT-7.35, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
Coursework
Schedule
Since this is a part-time programme, classes for the MFA primarily take place on Saturday afternoons. Classes are usually 1.5-3 hours, depending upon the course and the workshop. We ask students who are admitted to the programme to keep open Saturday afternoons as much as possible since we also hold specials sessions, writers’ talks, and other events throughout the two years. Occasionally we offer special events in the evenings or over a weekend.
During the course of the programme, you will join your fellow writers in a Creative Writing class on campus every semester, developing ties, encouragement and support from your fellow writers that last a lifetime.
First Year
The first year will offer two foundational course in the field for emerging writers, including “Exploring the Field” and “Contemporary Practices.” These foundational courses will focus on the history of the field and contemporary writing. They will look at the history, strengths and structures of a language for creative writing; design, experiment, and craft in creative writing; building expectations in a work of art; editing, drafting and fluidity in your work.
Second Year
The second year offers two Advanced Workshops as you develop your specialization of genre, whether in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction or drama. You will be developing your Creative Thesis as these sessions contribute elements and added strengths to your body of work as a writer.
Advising
The second year also offers professional Individual Advising in an Independent Study toward your Creative Thesis with an Advisor, a dedicated and expert writer from Hong Kong or overseas. You may combine genres or submit in a single genre, depending upon your developing choices over the course of two years.
Guest Lecturers and Advisors for postgraduate studies in creative writing at HKU have included:
Rajeev Balasubramanyam
Alica Ann Beale
Kimberly Elkins
Sanaz Fotouhi
Dennis Haskell
Justin Hill
Gish Jen
Keon Woong Lee
Marina Ma
Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Dino Mahoney
Page Richards
Shane Sakhrani
Brittani Sonnenberg
Michelle Sterling
Xu Xi
We have welcomed at HKU, among many speakers for our Writers’ Series, the following artists, writers, choreographers, producers, and directors:
Rita Dove, Poet Laureate, US, Commonwealth Professor of English, University of Virginia
Alan Hollinghurst, Novelist, Winner of the 2004 Booker Prize
Ellen Kaplan, Playwright, Director, and Professor of Theatre, Smith College
Bey Logan, Screenwriter, Author, and Producer
Stephen McCarty, Editor-in-Chief, Asia Literary Review
Evelin Moreira, Choreographer and Dancer
Sir Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate, UK, Professor of Creative Writing, Royal Holloway, University of London
Eddie Tay, Poet and Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hsu-Ming Teo, Cultural Historian, Novelist, and Professor of History, Macquarie University
We look forward to reading your application. Please feel free to write or leave a message if you have any questions.
Enquiries:
